AfterQuery and SME Careers both recruit subject matter experts and both pay weekly. SME Careers, SuperAnnotate's network, screens with a recorded AI interview, contracts you through Deel in any country Deel supports, and publishes a maximum rate only on its listings. AfterQuery runs an assessment per talent pool, pays every Friday through Stripe in 95 countries, and publishes full hourly rates with an $85 median. SME Careers reaches more countries. AfterQuery shows fuller rate information.
Quick verdict
AfterQuery $87/hr median (middle half $70 to $115, 172 distinct listed rates across 216 open listings); SME Careers has too few listed rates for a median (2 of 261 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Not comparable
Not enough rate data to compare.
Faster Onboarding
Similar
AfterQuery: Medium (assessment, then project invitations) SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
AfterQuery: 95 Stripe payout countries (48 unsupported) SME Careers: Countries supported by Deel
Trustpilot Score
SME Careers
AfterQuery: /5 SME Careers: 4.3/5
The Case for AfterQuery
AfterQuery hires through talent pools: each pool has one unpaid assessment, there is no pass or fail notice, and you hear back when a matching project opens. Projects typically run two to three weeks at 10 to 20 hours a week, and listed hourly rates have an $85 median. Pay lands every Friday for the prior week's approved work, through Stripe only, in the 95 countries Stripe pays out to, and the first payout has a 7-day hold.
The Case for SME Careers
SME Careers is SuperAnnotate's network for subject matter experts. You apply with a CV and take a recorded AI interview, some roles add a qualification exam or a call with the recruiting team, and a human makes every final hiring decision. Contracts run through Deel in any country Deel supports, and payouts are weekly for each Monday to Sunday. Listings publish a maximum rate only, so typical pay is below the figure shown.
| Metric | AfterQuery | SME Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $76/hr
Generalist median: $76/hr
Specialist median: $87/hr
| – |
| Payment Schedule | Weekly, every Friday (Stripe; Mon-Sun PT pay periods) | Weekly (Deel, Monday to Sunday) |
| Geo Accessibility | 95 Stripe payout countries (48 unsupported) | Countries supported by Deel |
| Onboarding Speed | Medium (assessment, then project invitations) | Variable (AI interview, then project matching) |
| Top User Complaint | "Project-based — work arrives in bursts, not a steady queue" | "Strict quality control periods" |
| Trustpilot Rating | /5 | 4.3/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 100% (n=97) |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | 2% (n=48) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
Interview, hours, contract-length, and timezone figures come directly from live job listings we track and manually verify, not platform marketing copy.
AfterQuery
AfterQuery hires ML researchers, PhD scientists and niche-domain professionals (COBOL, audit accounting, atmospheric modeling) as well as generalists. Hourly listings run $15 to $175/hr with an $85 median, legal, finance and quant roles reach $150 to $175/hr, and pay lands every Friday through Stripe. Each talent pool has one unpaid assessment, projects run 2 to 3 weeks at 10 to 20 hrs/wk and arrive in bursts, and payouts reach the 95 countries Stripe supports.
- ✓ Listed hourly rates have an $85 median, up to $175/hr
- ✓ Paid every Friday, with no fees from AfterQuery
- ✓ Niche domain coverage rare elsewhere (COBOL, EDA, climate ML, audit)
Current Openings
3 latest listings from afterquery
Legal Experts
Biology Experts
Medical Expert
SME Careers
SME Careers is SuperAnnotate's network for subject matter experts who train and evaluate AI models. You apply with a CV and take a recorded AI interview, some roles add a qualification exam or a call, and a human makes the final hiring decision. Contracts and weekly payouts run through Deel, in any country Deel supports. Listings publish a maximum rate only, so expect typical pay below the figure shown.
- ✓ Weekly payouts through Deel
- ✓ Open in any country Deel supports
- ✓ A human is involved in every final hiring decision
💬 User Feedback
"The people here are awesome—both the SuperAnnotate team and the high-quality colleagues I worked with. This was my first time, and despite some early snags, the team was incredibly supportive. The work is meaningful and the payment is reliable."
– Tina S. • Nov 2
"SuperAnnotate is a great company. The work has been pretty steady, and the leaders are excellent."
– Michael N. • Nov 2
Current Openings
3 latest listings from SME Careers
Workforce Experience Specialists
Legal & Compliance Specialist
Finance & Accounting Specialist
AfterQuery vs SME Careers: common questions
- Which pays more, AfterQuery or SME Careers?
- AfterQuery $87/hr median (middle half $70 to $115, 172 distinct listed rates across 216 open listings); SME Careers has too few listed rates for a median (2 of 261 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, AfterQuery or SME Careers?
- Onboarding time is similar. AfterQuery: Medium (assessment, then project invitations). SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching). AfterQuery has no interview-rate data yet; 100% of SME Careers's 97 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both AfterQuery and SME Careers?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (AfterQuery: Weekly, every Friday (Stripe; Mon-Sun PT pay periods); SME Careers: Weekly (Deel, Monday to Sunday)). Exclusivity, where it exists, is set per project in the agreement you sign, so check each project's terms before overlapping hours.
Both platforms are legitimate and widely used. The best choice depends on your background, goals, and location.